Habitat conservation for stream amphibians in a managed forest landscape

Investigators: Michael J. Adams, U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystems Science Center, and John P. Hayes and Niels Leuthold, OSU Department of Forest Science.

Multiple studies have examined the effects of timber harvest on headwater stream amphibians in the Pacific Northwest . Published work on the effects of timber management on stream amphibians has often been contradictory in nature. Some of the apparent discrepancies are related to methodological differences (e.g. time scale studied, site locations), but many of the conflicting results have been difficult to reconcile and have led to ambiguity in how to manage effectively timber harvests to minimize potential impacts on stream amphibian populations. Stream amphibian studies have generally been limited to stream amphibians. Data on hydrology, insect distribution, and fish distribution are rarely included in these analyses. The Hinkle Creek Paired Watershed Study provides a unique opportunity to combine data from multiple fields to help understand the impact of forest management on stream amphibians and the whole stream system.

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